Hundreds Rally with Planned Parenthood at Annual Capitol Day

SACRAMENTO – Clad in hot pink T-shirts, more than 400 Planned Parenthood activists and advocates rallied at the State Capitol today in support of reproductive health care, #Health4All and restoring the 10 percent cut in reimbursement rates paid to Medi-Cal providers.

Traveling from as far as San Diego and Eureka, Planned Parenthood activists took part in a “Day of Action” at the Sacramento Convention Center aimed at engaging youth in a variety of activities in support of reproductive health care for all Californians. These activities were documented via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram using the hashtags #PPCapitolDay, #BeyondBirthControl, #IStandWithPP and #Health4All.

Planned Parenthood Capitol Day 2014 featured a midday rally on the West Steps of the Capitol highlighted by speakers including Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens), Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles), PPAC President and CEO Kathy Kneer, and PPAC Vice President of Policy and Public Affairs Paul Knepprath. More than a dozen legislators, including Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) and Speaker-elect Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), donned pink ties, dresses and suits and stood with Planned Parenthood at the rally.

Activists marched to the West Steps of the Capitol and ended the day with legislative visits to support reproductive health care, health care for the undocumented and uninsured, and restoring the 10 percent Medi-Cal cut.

“Each year, more than 800,000 women and men in California trust Planned Parenthood health centers to provide them with professional, non-judgmental health care,” said Kathy Kneer, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. “We, in turn, have a duty to advocate to ensure all Californians have equal access to the health care they need. Planned Parenthood is part of a healthy community.”